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Whānau 4 Life: New Zealand to Vermont
The pedestrians in Burlington, Vermont USA had no idea they would stumble upon haka and poi performances as they strolled up Church Street on a recent Saturday evening.
The North American Whānau Council held its second annual event which included a BBQ, a hike up Mt. Philo and a dinner with waiata (songs) before taking its performance to the streets of Burlington. There was also an emotional ceremony, where the co-presidency was passed to two successors.
The North American Whānau Council is an organisation that sustains the relationship between North Americans who have been positively affected by Māori culture during their study abroad experience at Auckland University of Technology. The relationships are re-established each year through the North American Whānau Council Weekend, which continues the cultural exchange between alumni and their Māori whānau, or family.
Teaching poi to the next generation of AUT Whānau at Mt. Philo

The initial concept of the Whānau Council was started by AUT alumni in Denmark, and soon expanded to other countries in the region to create the European Whānau Council. Members are AUT alumni who took classes offered by the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development, and participated in the Noho Marae, a three-day event held at Ngā Wai o Horotiu Marae where AUT introduces international students to Māori culture, customs and the concept of ‘whānau’ or family.
Last year, two students from the University of Vermont (UVM) started the North American Whānau Council. AUT partners with two institutions in the Burlington area, which is one of the reasons why AUT whānau is so strong in Vermont.
The University of Vermont and AUT also have a partnership between their education departments. UVM students enrolled at AUT participate in a teaching internship at a primary school in Auckland, gaining a new perspective from the international setting. There have been more than 40 students in the programme over the last six years, with this year containing the largest cohort so far.
Dr Ellen Baker, head of UVM’s education department, says the international exchange has many benefits.
“Students can continue their professional trajectory, which is enriched by their experience in New Zealand. AUT has welcomed them through the orientation and the Noho Marae experience – students immediately feel a part of the community.”
Jason King, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Maori & Indigenous Development, AUT with the North American Whānau Council on top of Mt. Philo

Dr. George Burrill, Trustee to Champlain College and the Honorary Consul from New Zealand to Vermont, encouraged Champlain College to offer scholarships for a reciprocal exchange between Champlain and AUT students. At a recent awards luncheon, Connor, a scholarship student from Champlain College, told how despite his busy academic schedule at AUT he also coached a boys’ basketball team, and was also able to find time to explore New Zealand where he “geeked out for a few days and was a hobbit in Middle Earth,” exploring all the way down to Queenstown. Connor ended his speech with gratitude for the scholarship opportunity.
“I thank you once, I thank you twice, I thank you a thousand times for helping me in my journey. This opportunity has truly changed my life and the memories I made will not be forgotten.”
Thank you to the North American Whānau Council and the AUT staff for allowing me to join the Whānau in Burlington for the weekend.
Key takeaways
• Alumni are very eager to share their stories and participate in alumni events.
“I never get sick of talking about New Zealand.” – Monica
• Before students leave New Zealand, ask them how they will stay connected. The education graduates at UVM are developing a unit on Māori history and culture to teach in their classrooms.
“Most incredible semester I’ve ever had.” – Megan
• Connect your alumni with your contact at their international office so they can talk to prospective students during orientation, info sessions or a study abroad fairs.
Students are the driving force of alumni events abroad. Even when US students only come to New Zealand for one semester, their connection to Māori culture and the people of New Zealand lasts a lifetime thanks to the welcoming and positive learning culture.
Wellington schools team up for international education
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Chilton Saint James School and Scots College will market collectively as the Wellington Private Education Network, and will jointly fund an office in China where an onsite Marketing Manager can grow key relationships in the market.
The model has already seen a positive return, with Scots’ international student numbers more than doubling in the last 18 months. The schools are looking to develop a similar model in Thailand.
“This collaboration project sees us able to fully utilise shared resources which no single school could do on their own. Given we all offer the same world class education experience, it makes sense,” says Graeme Yule, Scots College Headmaster.
The collaboration will also implement StudyCare, a pastoral care programme to enhance the experience for international students that will also “help welcome and support new students to Wellington,” says Kathy Lloyd Parker, Principal of Chilton Saint James.
The programme has been developed by students and will be shared across all three schools.
Jenny Williams, Principal of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School is excited to see how the initiative will impact the wider community.
“The reaction been very positive and we have already seen an increase in interest for placement at our schools. Wellington has a wonderful offering for international students. There is real benefit to our current students and the wider Wellington community in increasing international numbers and internationalising our city.”
John Goulter, ENZ's General Manager, Stakeholders, Communications and Intelligence, is supportive of the collaboration.
“This initiative is a great example of regional collaboration to bring more international students in to Wellington. As a capital city, Wellington has so much to offer international students, and this is a great step to round out the region’s appeal.”
Grow your business with the Skills Lab
At the heart of the Skills Lab is project-based learning. These projects are designed to give you top tips and advice that you can consume in bite-size pieces. The Skills Lab also allows you to post your own comments and share your top tips so we can develop a professional community.
Collaboration at the heart
The Skills Lab was born of industry feedback. In the 2015 Industry Survey, you expressed a desire for more professional development support, and in particular asked for online support in order for you to access content at a time and location that suits you.
We’ve since co-developed the Skills Lab with multiple groups of industry representatives, having taken into account your advice on the structure and features of the website, as well as on key content areas. We’re already working on a range of refinements that you’ve suggested, including on individual projects and website functionality.
Helping grow your business
The Skills Lab is already proving useful. Robbie Pickford, International Director of Takapuna Grammar School, told The PIE News at the New Zealand International Education Conference that the Skills Lab helped her institution learn about new markets.
“I’ve been in the industry for a long time and there hasn’t been that go-to place that I could get intel about the market, the country or the culture. The Skills Lab also encourages industry collaboration, with users able to upload their own information and expertise. There’ll be more and more information available for the sector. It keeps us growing and thinking towards the future,” Pickford said.
Kirstyn Mawdsley, Director International of St Hilda’s Collegiate School, also told The PIE News that the Skills Lab would be of particular benefit to New Zealand’s regional and smaller providers.
“We don’t have the same budget available as bigger programmes, and often we’re working in very small departments. Trying to keep up to date with everything and find professional development opportunities is quite complicated. The Skills Lab helps with that and also alleviates the distance barrier,” she said.
Content examples from the Skills Lab

But wait, there’s more!
The current version of the Skills Lab is just the beginning. We’ll continue to roll out new content, so stay tuned for more case studies and international education-specific content over the coming months. We’re planning more detailed and useful projects that will help you in your specific organisational context.
We’ll also be partnering with individual industry experts to bring you case studies and projects based on their successes. If you have suggestions on content, or would like to offer some of your expertise and contribute to a case study or project, please email us at skillslab@enz.govt.nz.
Sign up and participate
You can access the Skills Lab at skillslab.enz.govt.nz or from the ENZ website.
Make sure you watch the introductory video to learn how you can use this exciting new tool.
Note that only approved New Zealand education providers are able to access the Skills Lab and its content.
If you are experiencing any difficulty in signing up to the Skills Lab, please email skillslab@enz.govt.nz.
International education gets $444,000 boost in co-funding
The IEGF is designed to help New Zealand’s education providers achieve growth by boosting bold, innovative ideas to maximise international education opportunities.
“The 2016 round of the IEGF brought applications from around the country, building on a sustained period of growth in international students choosing New Zealand as their study destination,” said ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson.
“We are particularly keen to see further growth across New Zealand so it is encouraging that more than two thirds of the innovative projects awarded funding are from education providers in the regions.”
Successful projects range from a fully integrated literacy programme in the United States, and the development of school-to-university pathway programme with middle schools in Changzhou, China, to the establishment of institutional relationships with selected Norwegian institutions.
Massey University is collaborating with the University of California at Davis to develop a world-class training programme in oiled wildlife response.
AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand is working with intermediate schools in Wellington to deliver a short programme for Chinese students which has a strong intercultural component.
“It is vital for New Zealand to continue to build on our international connections and ensure our young people are equipped with the cultural capability to study, live and work in the increasingly interconnected world we live in,” said Mr McPherson.
“Market diversification is key to the sustainable growth of international education. We welcome education providers exploring new avenues and looking to expand into new markets. Over half of the successful recipients are targeting more than one market while others are setting out to widen their reach to include US, Germany, Norway and Japan,” he said.
Matched funding worth up to $50,000 is open to all quality education providers, peak bodies, and businesses that offer education services or products internationally. The application process is competitive with preference given to bold approaches to growing the international education industry. In this latest round, 49 applications were received.
For a list of the successful recipients, click here.
Letter from the CE on India student market
India is and will continue to be a large part of the international education industry. The vast majority of Indian students who study in New Zealand make a very valuable contribution to our campuses, our workplaces and our society. Every day Indian students, alongside other international students, are helping New Zealand to build its research capability and global linkages, to fill skill shortages and to enrich New Zealand culture.
However, we do currently have a small number of students from India facing potential deportation because of issues with their visa, or with illegal behaviour while they have been in New Zealand. Separately, students affected by the recent sale of an Auckland private training provider are being supported to transfer to a new provider to continue and complete their studies.
There have also been disturbing stories about some cases of the exploitation of international students from employers and others.
New Zealand government agencies are working closely together on these issues, to ensure all students are treated fairly and are well cared for, and to protect New Zealand’s educational reputation. This joint-agency work on international student wellbeing has focused in recent months on Auckland where the majority of international students are located, and involved a range of community meetings and student focus groups to ensure student needs and concerns are being heard and addressed.
It is vital that New Zealand maintains high standards across the international education industry.
It is also important that these events do not tarnish the reputation of an entire community nor devalue the significant contribution that international students from India and elsewhere, and our education providers, make to New Zealand.
To all of us involved in international education, it is a timely reminder to honour our obligations and responsibilities to students. We all – providers, agents, employers, community and ethnic groups, government agencies and other support services – have a role to play in a successful international student experience.
When I talk about shared responsibilities, I am talking about government agencies which set the regulatory frameworks (including setting rules around proof of financial means), and agencies like Education New Zealand which promote New Zealand’s education opportunity offshore. I am also talking about providers which offer students – domestic and international – a wide variety of education programmes. These programmes can act as a stepping stone to further study in New Zealand or overseas. They can also provide a pathway to residence if a student gains the skills that are in demand in New Zealand. At other times, they are very much about the overseas experience.
Education agents and students also have a responsibility for great student experiences. There has been a lot of communication about the obligation on New Zealand providers to manage their agent relationships. Information sharing on agent performance is a key part of Immigration New Zealand’s strategy to support providers’ decisions on the agents they work with. Providers can expect to see greater government engagement on this area of compliance with the new Code of Pastoral Care.
We also have a collective responsibility to share and promote the positive contribution that international education makes to our communities.
We believe that students too have an obligation to come here with genuine intent – that their primary purpose is to study and that they have the means to do so. Working in New Zealand while studying is a way to complement the classroom skills they learn and to really engage with everyday life. It is not intended as a lifeline to cover living costs which can expose vulnerable students to the risk of exploitation.
Of course, New Zealand employers are important contributors to the education experience as well. Everyone in New Zealand has the right to protection through minimum work rights, and we expect employers to uphold New Zealand employment law. We continue to encourage individuals to come forward if they have specific examples of workplace mistreatment. This is the only way we can address these issues.
We are also working alongside the New Zealand communities of international students because we see this as crucial to good outcomes. It helps to bridge the gap that may exist through the different cultural contexts which operate and where, for example, some international students aren’t aware of their rights and protections under New Zealand law.
Of the students and former students facing deportation, some are in New Zealand unlawfully, some have been found to have submitted fraudulent visa applications, and some have committed crimes here. It’s critical that only those who have the right to be in New Zealand remain. This helps to support a quality system for the majority of international students who have, and continue to come here with, genuine means and intent.
Lastly, we acknowledge the role of education providers in this process – we do not accept poor performance. For the hundreds delivering high-quality education programmes in New Zealand, the outcomes for international students are obvious. Education New Zealand has numerous student stories of success. For the small number of providers not performing, agencies are taking appropriate action, not all of which makes it into the public arena, and for good reason. But I can say that agencies are working together more closely than before, sharing information to support change where it’s needed and to continuously improve the New Zealand education experience.
International education is one of the most powerful ways to connect us across the world. Let’s all continue to take responsibility for our part in it.

Grant McPherson
Chief Executive, Education New Zealand
Education Tauranga’s International Ball
Although it was a big commitment, Annette Roff, an ET member and Director of International Students from Tauranga Boys College, said that without this event many international students wouldn’t come across the opportunity again.
“Some our international students don’t stay for the full school year so they often miss out on their school ball. We want them to have every Kiwi experience possible, and that includes social events like this.”
Annette, alongside Del Miller, International Director from Bethlehem College, supervised a student-led ball committee. The students put together a budget, sold tickets, chose the theme and decorations (A Night in Paris) and even designed the invitations and posters. In an effort to make sure everyone was represented, they asked students to send requests to the DJ with songs from their home countries.
“I’ve been in international education for many years, but the ball was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” said Annette.
“The students were always on their feet dancing, I’ve never seen anyone dance that much! We had put a few seats around the edge for people to sit down, but they were hardly used.”
The international ball was the first formal event for many of the attendees, and the positive feedback has made ET think about creating other social events specifically for international students.
The ball committee will meet again next week for an evaluation of the event and to think about where to from here. Annette says that even though it was a lot of work, she would like to see it become a yearly event if possible.
“My advice to any region considering doing it is to make it happen. It’s a once in a lifetime experience for many of these students. Most people would say they don’t have the time to put into organising it, but seeing the students so happy makes it completely worthwhile.”
Kiwi academics wow Indian students and faculty
The ALS showcased the quality of education and research excellence at New Zealand’s universities, and provided a unique engagement platform for Indian students and faculty.
Jugnu Roy, ENZ’s Country Manager for India, says events like these are important to building relationships between Indian and New Zealand education institutions.
“The lecture series offered real-life examples of New Zealand’s academic and specialist research strengths. One-on-one engagement with experts inspires students to follow in their footsteps – and creates avenues to seek higher education in New Zealand,” she said.
The academics were Professor David Wareham from University of Canterbury, who presented ‘Effects of the Canterbury Earthquakes on the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sewage Disposal System’; Dr Gourab Sen Gupta from Massey University, who presented ‘Importance of sensing and measurement in the world of robotics’; Professor Ravi Gooneratne from Lincoln University, who presented ‘Impact of Climate Change on Food Safety & Security’; Professor Elizabeth Rose from University of Otago, who discussed international business in “International new ventures: where do we go from here?”; and Professor David Hutchinson from University of Otago, whose lecture centered on the work of the Dodd-Wall Centre for Photonic & Quantum Technologies.
The ALS visited institutions in five cities, including the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
The ALS generated significant media coverage in The Hindu, The Statesman, the Deccan Chronicle and other leading media outlets.
Click here to read the Academic Lecture Series programme.
Development of new international education strategy underway
Chief Executive Grant McPherson says Education New Zealand is aiming for a strategy that offers a step change in thinking, enjoys wide support and paves the way for sustained quality outcomes for all stakeholders, especially international students.
"International education touches many parts of our country and many individuals, organisations and businesses. We want everybody to see themselves reflected in the strategy. That means casting the net wide in its development."
“We are setting out to challenge and be challenged – we encourage all interested parties to be involved in strategy development.”
International student numbers and the economic value of the international education industry have grown steadily since the Leadership Statement for International Education was released in 2011.
In announcing the development of the new strategy at conference, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said that while the Leadership Statement set aspirational targets for the industry out to 2025, it is now time for a new plan that offers a clear view of the opportunities and challenges ahead, as well as an aligned strategy across government to inform and lead industry development.
Grant says that the new international education strategy is an opportunity for New Zealand to consolidate its current position and use it as a platform for future growth.
“Building sustainable growth in international education will require a diversified and innovative approach that looks to the future.
“We’re interested in rebalancing the targets across social, cultural and economic values as well as outcomes and experiences.
“While student mobility remains important, we’ll be increasing our focus on our education expertise in products and services which is an area of enormous opportunity for New Zealand.

“We are setting out to challenge and be challenged – we encourage all interested parties to be involved in strategy development.” – Grant McPherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand

“It’s also important that the contribution of international education to our regional communities and economies is emphasised in the strategy.”
Work is underway on planning for broad engagement with stakeholders over the next couple of months (see below to register for a workshop), followed by consultation on the draft strategy in January and February. A focus is on making involvement as straightforward as possible for industry participants through online and direct engagement.

Strategy workshops – register now

The strategy workshops are your chance to put your ideas forward and listen to the ideas of others. Please register for a workshop now at info@enz.govt.nz

Wellington, Monday 17 October – 1-4pm
Cliftons venue, Level 28, Majestic Tower, 100 Willis Street

Auckland, Tuesday 18 October – 12-3pm
Cliftons venue, Level 4, 45 Queen Street

Auckland, Wednesday 19 October – 9.30-12.30pm
Cliftons venue, Level 4, 45 Queen Street

Christchurch, Thursday 20 October – 12.30-3.30pm
Tait Communications, 245 Wooldridge Road, Harewood

Tauranga, Tuesday 1 November – 10-1pm
Club Mount Maunganui, 45 Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui

You will also shortly have the opportunity to share your ideas online. A formal consultation process will begin in mid-December.

We will provide regular updates on strategy development and ways to be involved through E-News.
Charles Finny's address to the India New Zealand Business Council
Charles Finny

India and New Zealand have been friends and trading partners for a long time, and thanks to our Commonwealth heritage, our democratic tradition, and our shared love of cricket, we have much to celebrate.
The Indian community here adds richness and vibrancy to New Zealand life, through great food, music, art and sport, diverse business ties, and annual festivals such as Diwali.
New Zealand’s economic future is very much tied to our key trading partners. India is currently our 10^th largest trade partner, and the Government’s vision is for India to become a core trade, economic and political partner. The importance of the relationship is reflected in the visit in April of the President of the Republic of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and, of course, our Prime Minister John Key will visit India later this month.
We have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement bilaterally for several years and we are both part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
One of the strongest parts of our relationship is in international education. Last year international education was probably the largest single item exported from New Zealand to India.
India is, and will continue to be, an important part of New Zealand’s international education strategy.
Every day, tens of thousands of Indian international students, alongside other international students, are helping New Zealand to build our research capability and global linkages, to fill skill shortages and enrich New Zealand culture.
The India New Zealand Business Council is a valued partner in our international education strategy. A number of education providers and immigration and education consultants are Council members, and all members play an important role in ensuring Indian international students have a positive experience in New Zealand. You do this not only through recruiting and employing them in your businesses, but also in providing leadership in upholding high standards when it comes to their treatment and welfare.
Many members of our Indian community have come to live in New Zealand after studying here. If we can continue to work together on skill development (and I’ll touch more on this later), then the transfer of knowledge, innovation and best practice will not only benefit the individuals involved but also our respective countries.
Countries that have innovative and skilled workforces prosper and it is the education system of a country that nurtures those skills.
The education experience that New Zealand offers is first rate. Our universities are world-class – all eight are rated in the top 3% globally, and we offer quality qualifications and hands-on vocational learning through our institutes of technology and private providers.
This quality has clearly been recognised by the Indian student audience, as we have experienced significant growth over the last three years – from 13,000 to 29,000 students between 2013 and 2015.
Such growth has demonstrated New Zealand’s strength as a world-class education destination, but it has also created some challenges as we adjust to manage this demand. I will spend some time outlining how the Government is ensuring a sustainable education sector – particularly for our Indian students and stakeholders.
Our education system has strong government oversight, a commitment to continuous improvement and we place student success and wellbeing front and centre.
We do this through a comprehensive framework of support, and many of us have a role to play here. These include the main government agencies, Education New Zealand, Ministry of Education, New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Tertiary Education Commission and Immigration New Zealand.
Other key players include education providers and the agents they use, employers and businesses, community and ethnic groups and other support services.
This extends also to our bilateral relationship – we have regular catch ups with the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, Mr Sanjiv Kohil.
All of us have a collective responsibility to ensure the experience of our international students is a positive one and results in positive outcomes for them and ultimately for our businesses and New Zealand society and economy.
We welcome international students who come here with genuine intent and means. But New Zealand, like any sovereign country, will take steps to protect our borders and deal decisively with fraudulent or unlawful behaviour when we see it.
Immigration New Zealand has invested heavily in intelligence gathering and verification support resources for immigration officers in India. As a result they have become more aware of risk and fraud in the market.
The visa decline rates from India are evidence of a significant effort by Immigration NZ to manage students and agents who submit false and misleading information in visa applications.
Immigration New Zealand is doing a lot of work to educate providers about student selection, and the need to manage their agent networks.
Immigration New Zealand and the Immigration Advisers Authority also ran a campaign in India earlier this year encouraging people to use a New Zealand licensed immigration adviser if they are seeking assistance to come to New Zealand.
I think it’s important to acknowledge at this stage too that New Zealand is not alone in facing issues of student visa fraud and dishonest agent behaviour. The United States, Canada, Australia and other countries all face the same challenges.
New Zealand government agencies are committed to acting in a fair and reasonable manner when dealing with students affected by issues of provider quality, or when students’ personal circumstances are, for a variety of reasons, less than straight-forward. Each student is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority, for example, is working with a group of former IANZ Level 6 students who were required to undertake reassessment to confirm their preparedness for study at another provider, EDENZ. More than 210 students will need extra support and assistance to get them to a standard where they can continue their studies. This is being provided to students at no additional cost so that they can move on from this period of change and continue their studies.
And, throughout this process, advice, support and counselling is being made freely available to all of the affected students.
Some of the issues that international students are experiencing are an important reminder that the majority of our international students are young adults, not only crossing geographical divides, many for the first time, but more often than not, cultural divides, away from the familiarity and care of family and friends.
The New Zealand government agencies I mentioned earlier are working closely together on these issues, to ensure all international students are treated fairly and are well cared for – that they feel welcome, are safe and well, enjoy a high-quality education and are valued for their contribution to New Zealand.
This joint-agency work on international student wellbeing has focused in recent months on Auckland where the majority of international students are located. It has involved a wide range of community meetings and student focus groups to ensure student needs and concerns are being heard and addressed.
We must maintain high standards across our international education industry. Equally, we are determined not to let the actions of a small number of individuals damage the reputation of an entire community, nor devalue the contribution that students from India and elsewhere, and our education providers, make to New Zealand.
Most providers are doing a very good job for their students. Satisfaction rates among students surveyed by the International Student Barometer in 2014 and 2015 ranged from 88% to 94% as being satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience at their New Zealand institution.
Government agencies are working with providers to address any issues with quality, including insisting they work with reliable education agents in India.
Agents play a key role at the beginning of a student’s international education journey in ensuring that the students are informed and make the right choices, and know what to expect as a student in New Zealand.
The reality is, the seeds of what will be a positive or negative international student experience are often sown before the student has even left India.
Education agents are central to the Indian market, with more than 90% of Indian students using agents when applying to study in New Zealand. There are thousands of agents in India, and the Government is promoting the use of high-performing agents through:
- Education providers having a responsibility for agent performance and advice under the revised Code of Pastoral Care, which I’ll talk more about shortly
- Education New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand providing more information on agent performance to education providers and students, including through the Immigration New Zealand website
- Education New Zealand revising the ENZ Recognised Agencies programme, to ensure we better support and promote the use of high-quality agents in markets such as India.
I’m interested too in your thoughts as to what we can do together – at both a government and business level – to ensure that Indian students are working with genuine agents? Perhaps that’s something we can discuss at the end of this address.
The onus is also on students to ensure they have the financial means to support themselves in their study, and to take responsibility for understanding the requirements to study in New Zealand, including the immigration requirements. When students apply for a visa, they must sign their application as a true and accurate record and have the documents to support their application.
The cross-agency wellbeing work I mentioned earlier complements the pastoral care Code of Practice which New Zealand was the first country to introduce and which was recently strengthened with effect from 1 July.
Only education providers who are approved signatories to the Code are allowed to enrol international students. To maintain this privilege, they are expected to meet high standards of service delivery, in accordance with the Code.
The strengthened Code now means that providers are directly accountable for the behaviour of their agents. Expectations include carrying out reference checks of agents, having a written contract with agents, actively monitoring agents and terminating contracts where there is evidence of misleading, deceptive or illegal behaviour, or where an agent is breaching the Code. The focus is on creating sustainable growth by prioritising higher value, higher quality students.
Tough sanctions are now available to deal with providers who fail to manage their agents, including the removal of the right to enrol international students. Enforcing the Code is the responsibility of NZQA who are working closely with Immigration New Zealand to ensure providers proactively comply with the Code.
At the same time, as I mentioned earlier, international students also have an obligation to come here with genuine intent – that their primary purpose is to study, and they have the means to do so.
Working in New Zealand while studying is a way to complement the classroom skills they learn and to really engage with New Zealand’s everyday life. It is not intended as a lifeline to cover living costs.
Not having enough money to support themselves creates vulnerable students who are easy to exploit. This is the reason why Immigration New Zealand has a minimum level of fund requirement for international students to cover their time here.
And of course when students do get jobs, New Zealand employers have a legal and moral responsibility to uphold New Zealand employment law, to pay for hours worked and to honour the minimum wage. Everyone in New Zealand has the right to protection through minimum work rights.
I urge Council members to show leadership in modelling and upholding these rights in the Indian community, in your businesses and through your wider networks.
We continue to encourage individuals to come forward if they have specific examples of exploitation. This is the only way we can address these issues.
The support and input of the New Zealand communities of our international students is also vital to good outcomes.
INZBC has a crucial role to play in helping to bridge the gap that may exist through differing cultural contexts, where, for example, some international students aren’t aware that their rights in New Zealand are protected.
I’d like to applaud the contribution of INZBC members who acknowledge the opportunities that a New Zealand education can offer Indian students in terms of skills and knowledge transfer.
To be truly successful we need to attract students who have the best potential for positive outcomes to New Zealand. These are the students coming to New Zealand to study high-value programmes that can put them on the path to further study, or to work in high-demand areas in New Zealand, India or across the world.
Our ‘target South’ India strategy focuses on attracting genuine students interested in pursuing high-level qualifications in our education market.
As part of this strategy we established a presence in Mumbai in early 2015 and have since focused our promotional activities in the south and west of India where students have higher levels of visa approval rates and student mobility.
This strategy involves promotion across a variety of channels, including digital, social and traditional media, promotional events and scholarship initiatives, academic exchanges, and education fairs.
Education fairs continue to be a strong recruitment channel for us in India, providing outreach to students and families so they can discuss the benefits of New Zealand as a study destination. These fairs are well supported by industry, with more than 30 New Zealand providers attending each of our fairs this year.
We will continue to adjust the locations and formats of fairs to anticipate local market conditions, and they remain an important part of ENZ’s India promotional strategy.
We are trialling new initiatives in-market too. In August, ENZ partnered with New Zealand universities and Indian institutions to host a series of guest lectures by eminent New Zealand academics in cities in South India.
The lecture series was extremely successful in raising awareness of New Zealand’s technical expertise in the areas of engineering, science and business, and building institutional partnerships between our countries.
We have also boosted the numbers of scholarships aimed at Indian graduates interested in pursuing post-graduate study here. The New Zealand Excellence Awards, announced mid-year, offer scholarships to 35 Indian scholars at all eight of our universities. There is also the Christchurch Educated Skills Scholarship for India which targets post-graduate students studying courses in skill shortage areas that are directly related to the Canterbury earthquake rebuild.
In closing, I’d like to repeat how much the social, cultural and economic contribution of Indian students to New Zealand is valued. I want to acknowledge again the Council’s part in that, as well as its important role in demonstrating leadership to the Indian business community when it comes to recruiting, employing and supporting Indian international students.
While we all play a role in the welfare and outcomes of our international students, we also have a collective responsibility to share and promote the positive contribution that international education makes to our communities.
As a result of the policy changes that we have already introduced you will notice that the number of Indian students coming to New Zealand will have reduced to levels similar to that we achieved in 2013. As we solve some of the problems I have discussed today that number may slow further before starting to grow again.
Can I end by emphasising that over the longer term we look forward to welcoming as many high quality Indian students who want to come to New Zealand to study higher end qualifications who meet our entry criteria. We look forward to working in India and here with stakeholders such as the INZBC to ensure that we have a sustainable level of Indian students in New Zealand and that this vital part of the bilateral relationship is not put further at risk by the actions of a few.
Thank you.
The EAIE 2016 builds partnerships
The EAIE conference took place last month in Liverpool, with more than 5000 participants from over 80 countries in attendance. This included ENZ, which coordinated a branded New Zealand pavilion that showcased six universities and four Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.
ENZ’s Regional Director Americas and Europe, Lisa Futschek, says that partnerships such as NMIT’s confirm how important EAIE is for New Zealand providers wanting to work with overseas institutions.
“Face-to-face relationship building is invaluable in this industry, allowing providers to discuss opportunities in a friendly but focussed environment,” she said.
“Each year EAIE brings together not just European, but global key industry players. It therefore provides a perfect platform for New Zealand industry to establish new and develop existing international partnerships.”
In light of its new partnership, NMIT will begin on-campus promotion of the exchange opportunity to Kiwi students in 2017.
The EAIE is not a student-facing event, similar to its North American counterpart, NAFSA (Association of International Educators) but an important business to business event on the annual international education calendar.
Left: Will Tregidga, International Development Manager from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) with Silke Bochow from Cologne Business School.

On the eve of the EAIE conference, ENZ hosted a New Zealand networking function, A Taste of New Zealand in the heart of Liverpool, for New Zealand institutions along with their existing and potential European partners. The New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Sir Lockwood Smith, officially opened the event, delighting guests with his passionate promotion of New Zealand as an international education destination. He shared with the crowd his pride at having introduced the world-leading integrated Qualifications Framework as Education Minister in the late 1980s.
Sir Lockwood brought the evening to a fitting close by leading Ngati Ranana Kapa Haka group in a spontaneous and rousing rendition of “Now is the Hour”.
Sir Lockwood Smith at A Taste of New Zealand in the heart of Liverpool